This Week's Weather

By John McGinley

An Arctic air mass like we haven’t seen in many winters moved in to the Foothills Tuesday afternoon bringing snow and extreme cold. Temperatures plunged to near zero by midnight with hours of moderate snow. Snow totals ranged from 2-5 inches at midnight continuing into Wednesday. Temperatures on the Plains were in the single digits to well below zero as one moved into Canada. Lowest temperatures were -30 to -35F in Manitoba. The Canyon road turned slick Tuesday night with more hazards into Wednesday. Prior to the blast we were we were basking in 40 degree highs and lows in the high 20s or low 30s. Winds howled on Sunday and Monday with gusts over 60mph. With November at an end we found an average high of 41F and lows of 26F. These combined to make the month three degrees above normal. We were drier than average with only 11 inches of snow, 7 inches below normal. Total liquid was 0.72 inches. We had 10 windy days with three having gusts over 60mph

Day Date High Low Precip Comments

Wed Nov 27 44 27

Thu Nov 28 42 23 Nice Thanksgiving

Fri Nov 29 42 32 Gusts to 43mph

Sat Nov 30 39 31

Sun Dec 1 36 29 Gusts to 65mph

Mon Dec 2 38 31 Trace S Gusts to 61mph

Tues Dec 3 34 7 3.0 S/ 0.24L Arctic front

End-of-week snow on ground: 2.5 inches

Forecast

After the arctic frontal passage and snow Wednesday, clearing will commence by Thursday but with very cold conditions. Lows will be below zero Thursday and Friday morning. Another weaker system will move in Saturday and Sunday with some light snow and continued cold. By Monday we’ll see highs back into the upper teens; Tuesday in the 20s; and 30s by Wednesday.

Despite what we are seeing out the window, the typical December has average highs of 35F with lows of 15F. We normally have 18 inches of snow that melts out to about one-inch of liquid. December is a windy month with 14 days at or over 40mph and 4 days over 60mph.We have already had two of these and we’re still in the first week.

Thursday-Dec 5: Flurries early with lows -3 to -7F. Highs only reaching the upper single digits.

Friday-Dec 6: Fair and cold with lows 0 to -5 and highs in the low teens.

Saturday-Dec 7: Increasing clouds and cold with highs in the mid teens and lows in the single digits. Light snow by afternoon

Sunday-Dec 8: Cloudy with light snow ending by afternoon. Highs mid teens after lows in the single digits.

Monday-Dec 9: Fair and cold with highs in the upper teens after lows near zero.

Tuesday-Dec 10: Fair and warmer with highs in the 20s after lows in the upper single digits. Gusty winds late.

Wednesday-Dec 11: Windy and warmer with highs back into the 30s after lows in the teens.